chronic_listener's reviews
166 reviews

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

These Hollow Vows

Lexi Ryan

5.0
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The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

The Charm Offensive

Alison Cochrun

4.75
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Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Lights Out

Navessa Allen

4.25
dark funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did! Hilarious and fast-paced with a morally grey golden retriever mmc. Has there ever been a less problematic dark romance main character than cat dad Josh? I doubt it.
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The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers

Katherine Center

3.0
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Loveable characters: Complicated
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Funny Story by Emily Henry

Funny Story

Emily Henry

4.5
emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Funny Story was incredibly well written with insane chemistry and banter that made me grin and snort-laugh in equal parts. I also wanted to cry because her character are so real, relatable and fully fleshed out that their pain felt like it was mine. 
I loved the themes in this book more than the romance itself. Yes, I loved Miles and Daphne together but their individual journeys and growth is what made this book remarkable in my opinion.

Some of the themes I loved in this (an incomplete list):
➳ Daphne's connection with her mom
➳ building yourself a full life and figuring out what you want that to look like
➳ putting your trust into someone only to be repeatedly let down but still not being able to let go or stop hoping
➳ the raw and heartfelt moments between all the characters and with Daphne on her own
➳ building your life around someone instead of for yourself and its consequences 
➳ the found family aspect and all the side characters (except for you know who)

"You can‘t force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don't."

Sososososo many great quotes. Not my fav EmHen book (👑 Happy Place) but one of my fav reads of the year for sure.
🎧 Julia Whelan 10/10 no notes
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The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

The Pumpkin Spice Café

Laurie Gilmore

3.5
emotional funny lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
The Pumpkin Spice Café had immaculate cozy fall vibes, it was sweet and made me giggle more than once. 🍂 
While I am not a fan of the whole insta-love thing (which made the romance aspect of this book pretty meh for me), and it was a bit "cliché Hallmark movie", I did enjoy a few other things:
♥ the anxiety representation 
♥ the townsfolk (I love a tight knit community)
♥ the found family
♥ the clairvoyant mayor (hilarious)

Overall, I liked their individual character growth journeys more than their romance, I could see myself in Jeanie a lot at times (anxious and spewing words like a waterfall without thinking or being able to stop herself, whoops).

I'll definitely give the rest of the books in this series a chance when I'm in need of a quick and easy read with a dash of spice.
🎧 audio experience could have been better 3/5
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Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Everything I Know About Love

Dolly Alderton

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
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Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Once Upon a Broken Heart

Stephanie Garber

4.25
adventurous mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
I thought the opening of the story from the POV of a door bell was just genius and I was immediately hooked.
I loved the writing style, it was magical and whimsical and so easy to follow in my opinion. I was not expecting the fairytales vibes mixed with humor and I was pleasantly surprised. The 400 pages / 10 hours completely flew by! Can't wait to see where this story goes.
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Irresponsible Puckboy by Saxon James, Eden Finley

Irresponsible Puckboy

Saxon James, Eden Finley

4.0
emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Yes
Saxon James and Eden Finley never disappoint if you are in need of a low-angst good laugh and an escape from reality.
As much as I love me some enemies-to-lovers, there is something so beautiful and soft about a great friends-to-lovers story. This was so well done here, you could feel the love Tripp and Dex had for each other radiating off the page. 
Watching Dex slowly realize his feelings and them going from true platonic soulmates to romantic soulmates made my heart soar.
I smiled so much while reading, cackled, swooned and had to rub my chest because it was hurting from all their pining.
My personal highlight in this: the cameos of characters from their other series, I was squealing with joy because I missed my boys so much. 
Always a big fan of the idiots in love vibes, can‘t get enough.
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Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Two Can Play

Ali Hazelwood

3.5
lighthearted medium-paced
Two Can Play was a quick, fun listen, short but packed with tropes. It definitely didn't reinvent the wheel but it was an enjoyable read anyway.
I liked the forced proximity aspect and video game theme, I'm always a sucker for enemies-to-lovers but the obvious misunderstanding in this one made my eye twitch. 
I didn't really connect with the characters (maybe because it was only a novella) and the love story happened a bit to fast and all at once for my taste.

My favorite part about this book was definitely the concept of the Limerance series. I wish I could read these books in real life because they sounded kind of incredible!

All in all a decent book with cozy winter cabin vibes, not earth shattering but entertaining nonetheless.